Breakaway rail for race tracks



April 7, 1964 P. BIEBER 3,127,870

BREAKAWAY RAIL FOR RACE TRACKS Filed Feb. 27, 1962 Phi/I10 B/eber /8 Fig 4 l8 INVENTOR.

i i '24 BY I 26? 30 Wm 25% United States Patent 3,127,870 BREAKAWAY L FUR RACE TRACKS Philip Bieher, 2915 Segovia Stu, Coral Gabies 34, Fla. Filed Feb. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 175,970 Claims. (Ci. 11.9-15.5)

The present invention is concerned with race tracks, and more specifically with a breakaway rail for race tracks.

Generally, present day race tracks are provided with rails along both the inner and outer edge of the tracks. These rails are of importance as a means for clearly defining the boundaries of the track and also for the purpose of both confining and guiding the race horses in the desired direction. However, a significant problem arising from the use of such rails arises from the occasional tendency for one or more of the race horses to attempt to leave the track. This can be brought about by a variety of circumstances such as an accidental shove from one of the other horses, or a sudden panicing of the horse. As is readily apparent, the coming in contact with excessive force against a rigid rail can cause extensive damage both to the horse and the jockey astride the horse. Additionally, if the force were sufiicient to cause a breaking of the rail, damage would not only arise from the impact but also from the very great likelihood of coming in contact with the projecting jagged edges of the rail where the break occurs.

Accordingly, one of the primary objects of the present invention is the provision of a rail or rails which is capable of providing a boundary and guide means, and which at the same time is constructed in such a manner so as to prevent injury to both the horse and the jockey.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a rail which is capable of sustaining a normal brushing of the horse against the rail, but which would instantly shatter upon contact therewith with any excessive force.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a boundary rail made up of relatively small breakaway sections thereby eliminating the danger of impaling the horse or jockey. Also, an object of the present invention is the provision of a rail which is both inexpensive to manufacture and easy to install.

Likewise, an object of the present invention is the provision of a boundary rail which can be easily and quickly repaired thus preventing any delay between races.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more Bully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the ac companying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective view of a race track illustrating the normal orientation of the breakaway rail of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial elevational view of the breakaway rail of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 33 in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 4--4 in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating the manner in which adjoining sections of the present invention are secured together.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral generally designates the breakaway rail comprising the present invention. This breakaway rail 10 can be provided along both the inner and outer boundaries of a track 12, however, because of the tendency of race horses to crowd around the inner rail, a breakaway rail 10, if so desired, may be provided only along the inner boundary.

The breakaway rail 10- consists basically of a rail means 14 and a post means 16. Both the rail means 14 and the post means 16 are formed of a plurality of sections 18 and 20. While the invention is not specifically limited thereto, it is preferred that these sections '18 and 20 be approximately eighteen inches in length thereby being incapable of sticking in the ground, upon the shattering of the breakaway rail 10, in such a manner so as to present an upwardly extending end capable of impaling either the horse or the jockey.

Both the rail sections 18 and the post sections 20 are secured together in the same manner by :means of an elongated plate 22 spanning the two abutting ends of adjacent sections. The plate 22 is secured to the section ends by means of a plurality of bolts 24 extending through both the plate 22 and the adjacent section. Each plate 23 is provided with a weakened center section 26 which corresponds with the abutting ends of the two rail sections 18 or post sections 20. This weakened center section 26 is capable of sustaining a mere brushing of the horse against the rail such as .is normal during the course of a race, but the weakened center section 26 is incapable of withstanding any excessive force, and upon the application of such force the plate 22 will immediately part causing a shattering of the breakaway rail :10 thus avoiding any damage to either the horse or the jockey brought about by contact with the rail.

The bolts 24 are generally secured by means of nuts 28 which allow for easy replacement of the various sections. If so desired, the bolts 24 can be provided with breakaway sections 30 which will function in the same manner as the plate breakaway sections 26. Also, if so desired, both the bolts 24 and the plates 22 can be simultaneously provided with breakaway sections so as to insure the proper shattering of the breakaway rail 10.

As more clearly illustrated in FIGURE 2-, the section of the rail means 14 secured to the post means 16 can be provided with a downwardly projecting extension 32 facilitating the securing of the post section 20 thereto. Also, while FIGURE 2 illustrates the lower post joint as being positioned slightly above the ground. level, it is readily apparent that this joint can be positioned exactly at ground level so as to avoid any projecting ends upon the shattering of the breakaway rail 10. The lower section 36 of each post means 16 is securely anchored in the ground adjoining the track 12 so as to insure a proper positioning and supporting of the breakaway rail 10.

As illustrated in FIGURE 5, the inner surface 34 of the plate 22 can be shaped so as to conform to the adjacent ends of the sections being secured together. Further, while the use of weakness points 26 and 30 have been specifically illustrated, it is readily apparent that other means can be used to obtain the desired instant shattering of the breakaway rail 10. For example, the plate 22 and the bolts 24 can be formed of a material which would inherently break upon the application of any force in excess of a mere brushing of the animal against the rail.

The present invention overcomes one of the more troublesome problems involved in horse racing, that of injury to both the horse and the jockey brought about by the horse colliding with the boundary or guide rails. This problem is eliminated by the present invention which provides a rail made up of a plurality of relatively small individual sections secured together in such a manner so as to be capable of instantly shattering upon the animal coming in contact with the rail with any amount of force other than a mere brushing against the rail. Also, in

addition to preventing injury to the animal, the invention herein also enables the rail to be quickly and easily repaired by merely replacing the sections broken away without the necessity of any trimming of splintered ends or removal of additional sections. The only new materials needed in the repair of the rail would be the joining plates and the bolts securing the plates to the ad jacent ends of the sections. While the breakaway rail of the present invention has been illustrated as being formed of tubular members, it is readily apparent that the invention herein is not specifically limited to the use of such members, for example, conventional fiat or semicircular members may be used. Further, attention is directed to the fact that the invention herein is not specifically limited to horse racing and can be readily adapted to many forms of racing, as for example greyhound racmg.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A breakaway race track rail comprising a rail means and posts, both the rail means and posts consisting of a plurality of sections-and means securing said sections together, said last mentioned securing means being substantially weaker than said sections and easily broken upon the application of a force against the sections in excess of a mere brushing force, said securing means including plates spanning the ends of adjacent sections and secured thereto by a plurality of bolts, said plates being provided with centrally located points of weakness.

2. A breakaway race track rail comprising a rail means and posts, both the rail means and posts consisting of a plurality of sections and means securing said sections together, said last mentioned securing means being substantially weaker than said sections and easily broken upon the application of a force against the sections in excess of a mere brushing force, said securing means including plates spanning the ends of adjacent sections and secured thereto by a plurality of bolts, said bolts being provided with points of weakness.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein the bolts are provided with points of weakness.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein the lowermost joint on each post is positioned at approximately ground level.

5. The structure of claim 3 wherein the rail and post sections are approximately 18 inches in length.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 402,732 Gilbert May 7, 1889 552,222 Wybrow Dec. 31, 1895 2,932,488 Dotsont Apr. 12, 1960 2,960,964 Murphy Nov. 22, 1960 

1. A BREAKAWAY RACE TRACK RAIL COMPRISING A RAIL MEANS AND POSTS, BOTH THE RAIL MEANS AND POSTS CONSISTING OF A PLURALITY OF SECTIONS AND MEANS SECURING SAID SECTIONS TOGETHER SAID LAST MENTIONED SECURING MEANS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY WEAKER THAN SAID SECTIONS AND EASILY BROKEN UPON THE APPLICATION OF A FORCE AGAINST THE SECTIONS IN EXCESS OF A MERE BRUSHING FORCE, SAID SECURING MEANS INCLUDING PLATES SPANNING THE ENDS OF ADJACENT SECTIONS AND SECURED THERETO BY A PLURALITY OF BOLTS, SAID PLATES BEING PROVIDED WITH CENTRALLY LOCATED POINTS OF WEAKNESS. 